Photo of Dusty Olson and Scott Jurek in April issue of Runner’s World Magazine!

Not only did Duluth help raise the lovely Olympian runner Kara Goucher for a short time at Duluth East,  but ultramarathoner Scott Jurek calls it his hometown.

As I opened up this month’s issue to the article about Jurek,  I had to giggle with shock at the photo of he and another D-town personality, Dusty Olson!  Go buy the issue today!  And, oh,  start running, too.

20 Comments

Sean

about 15 years ago

Before we go praising this article, please let's turn to paragraph four, page 86:

"He grew up five miles outside of Proctor, Minnesota, about 10 miles from Duluth, an eternity from anything approaching luxury."

Of note, Jurek is actually from Caribou Lake/Twig, also hometown of famed Olympian (and 1/2 marathon namesake) Garry Bjorklund.

mary bue

about 15 years ago

Whoops! I got carried away.

Paul Lundgren

about 15 years ago

So, I haven't read the article, but how is it that "about 10 miles from Duluth" is "an eternity from anything approaching luxury"?

I've seen some pretty luxurious homes in the Caribou Lake area.

Shane

about 15 years ago

I don't get the problem/issue with the quote.

Oh well.

Dave Sorensen

about 15 years ago

I love how the world thinks we all live in Quonset Huts up here.

adam

about 15 years ago

Hi, Mary!

Someone needs to scan this.

mary bue

about 15 years ago

I agree.  This post is lacking without the photo ... I haven't a scanner nearby.  Alas!

Shane

about 15 years ago

I like the idea of scanning the photo and posting it, however, would that not violate some sort of copyright?

adam

about 15 years ago

Just get me a high rez scan so I can run it through Rasterbator.

digit3

about 15 years ago

Makes me sad to think about all of that amazing natural talent that Dusty has/had that was squandered. That guy could have been as good or perhaps better than Jurek but thought THC was more important.

zra

about 15 years ago

The History Channel? Really? Wow, and all this time I thought being a carpenter was more lucrative.

cork1

about 15 years ago

"Has." The correct tense is "has." 

No disrespect to Dusty or Scott, but Jurek is a freak of nature when it comes to ultras. Dusty is very, very good, but running and training for that sort of event takes a certain sort of OCD and focus that's really hard to maintain for many years. I don't fault Dusty for having more fun with his own adventures and acting as Scott's pacer/motivator.

Shane

about 15 years ago

THC had nothing to do with the idea of Dusty not living up to his full athletic potential.

rnarum

about 15 years ago

Jurek graduated from pt while at CSS ... lived and breathed Duluth air. Perhaps he was born in Twig ... yes he was a Proctor High School grad ... perhaps more a choice of where his parents lived than his own? While an adult, he chose to live in Duluth. If he claims it as his hometown, for whatever reason ... fair enough. Tremondous athlete. Great person.

On Dusty ... if he chooses to pursue his athletic feats at his own pace, in his own way, and kick your ass while he does it ... I say, rock on Dusty, two thumbs up to you. If you don't like the way that he does it ... train harder yourself, and stop letting your parents down.

gingerbliss

about 15 years ago

Dusty beats to his own drum and if you don't like it, that is your problem. Athletically speaking, he is world class and can still outperform anyone he wants; and if you know him, he is pretty damn smart too.  Sounds like there is some hating by people who have no clue.

Shane

about 15 years ago

Thanks Gingerbliss, your comment is right on the mark.

Dr.Bell

about 15 years ago

I have been on the medical staff at the Western States 100 Endurance Run for the last several years and have met both Scott and Dusty-they are both first-rate guys.

One year, I gave Dusty a ride to Robinson Flat Aid Station. I asked Dusty about several runners who were planning on ganging up on Scott to wear him out and try to win the race.

Dusty got a good laugh out of that. Later in in the day, Scott broke the course record by 4 minutes.

That being said, I thought the Runner's World article, well, sucked.

The article implies that Scott is a quitter. In a race where he ran 65 miles at a 9:04 pace. Sheesh!

Jane

about 13 years ago

I may be late to this party, but ... I first met Dusty more than 30+ years ago, he does things in his own time, in his way - and just keeps getting better and better. Rock on, darlin'

FromDuluth

about 13 years ago

Runner's World: "The King of Pain"

If you see the article and split the hairs about where Scott is from you miss the idea of growing up in hardship. Just because someone saw a large house in Twig does not mean he grew up in opulence, just because he graduated from Proctor doesn't mean he isn't from Proctor, Twig and Duluth.   The article builds a story; it revers him for the multitude of successes, but looks carefully at the question of what next, and what is is all for.

Dusty needs to be part of the story because Dusty is the guy so many people would like to be while racing; happy, positive and wicked fast; he is the contrast.  I've known him since the mid-1980s and appreciated that he was happy, never condescending to those who raced him, and appreciated life for what he made it.

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